Two new Fish Aggregating Devices to be deployed today

Fishermen of St Vincent and the Grenadines will again benefit from the placement of two new Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), which will be deployed today, Tuesday, March 6.{{more}}

According to officials at the Fisheries Division, the FADs will be placed at sites off the coast of Barrouallie and Owia respectively.

FADs are man-made objects, placed in the sea, that attract fishes such as tuna, dolphin and other species. They are made from various types of materials, anchored to the ocean floor and assist with flotation through the use of buoys.

Fisheries Officer Hyrone Johnson stated that the FADs have been accessed through a project now being implemented and funded through the European Inter-regional Cooperation, through a Magdelisa Project, managed by the French Authorities. Johnson said that the FADs will be constructed in the neighbouring island of Martinique and brought here. On Tuesday, they will be placed at the sites requested by the fishermen and monitored by the Fisheries Division.

Chief Fisheries Officer Raymond Ryan said that the placement of the FADs is consistent with the drive to enhance fisheries development in St Vincent and the Grenadines. He stated that the devices will facilitate: an increase in fish landings; an increase in the efficiency of fishing trips, primarily, by reducing search time and fuel consumption for each fishing trip; a reduction in fishing pressure on reef and shelf fish populations; an enhanced contribution of fisheries to GDP and national food security; greater collaboration among fishermen.

The FADs will be deployed with the assistance of a vessel that is expected in Port Kingstown today, and will journey to the sites with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Transformation, Fisheries, Forestry and Industry.